“The sort of lowest hanging fruit there are probably contested logistics, counter-UAS [unmanned aerial systems] and electronic warfare,” Joby Executive Chairman Paul Sciarra told Breaking Defense.
“The involvement of the military massively augments our velocity on the commercial side because the military's expectation of an airplane is fundamentally the same as the FAA’s. They want a safe, reliable, repeatedly produced aircraft,” said BETA founder and CEO Kyle Clark.
Discover how unmanned systems and emerging technologies are shaping the future of U.S. naval power in Breaking Defense’s new eBook.
According to Shield AI founder Brandon Tseng, the Air Force could be able to operate swarms of autonomous V-Bat drones as early as 2023.
The B-SURE bio-bugs program is a first baby step in using biology to create a space-based supply chain, reducing reliance on materials launched from Earth.
"The commercial space sector is driving the market, and "Space Systems commanders are eager to facilitate these companies and bring their unique solutions into our programs of record," says Joy White, executive director of the new Space Systems Command.
How the Air Force embodies its 'agile combat employment' concept depends in part on the future fleet composition -- with the F-22's fate a central question.
As threats rapidly evolve, digital engineering, manufacturing capacity and robust supply chains are critical to meeting challenges.
The Space Prime effort could support game-changing "space transport and logistics" capabilities, says Col. Eric Felt, head of AFRL's Space Vehicles Directorate.
"We will begin designing future 'Prime' programs focused on space, autonomy, energy, gaming, supersonics and microelectronics," Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said.
"I think we need something like a PEO that is wholly focused on commercial enterprise," says Air Force acquisition czar Will Roper.
The Air Force is creating a new PEO for "Fighters and Advanced Aircraft" this summer, combining NGAD with the Digital Century Series program, says acquisition czar Will Roper.
Government can’t stop to update systems, so modernization has to happen without interruptions.
The "Agility Prime" event next week will kick off with speeches by Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett, Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, and Air Force acquisition head Will Roper.
"We are going to accelerate this market for domestic use in a way that also helps our military," Roper stressed. "The Air Force is all in."
"Now is the perfect time to make Jetson's cars real," says Air Force acquisition head Will Roper.